What Does a Cultural Resource Specialist Do?
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Managing our shared cultural heritage during land development projects requires specialized expertise.Cultural Resource Consultant fill this essential niche through systematic surveys, assessments, documentation, and protection planning for archaeological sites and historic resources discovered within construction footprints.
As key members of cultural resource management teams, their blend of fieldwork abilities, research skills, regulatory knowledge, and analytical talent makes the difference for preserving the past while allowing progress.
Conducting Field Investigations
Cultural Resource Management Company start projects by planning and conducting site surveys across construction zones. They map out grid patterns for intensely walking land parcels looking for surface clues of past occupation.
They dig small shovel test pits at regular intervals to probe for buried signs showing cultural sites. When crew members find evidence, Specialists document the GPS coordinates, depths, photos, and descriptions. They carefully bag artifacts and label locations.
Senior archaeologists judge if extra machine stripping or remote sensing gadgets are needed to define full site boundaries underground. Meticulous records aid future study.
Documenting and Recording Sites
Once Archaeologists discover historic sites or artifacts, proper documentation begins immediately.
Detailed measurements and GPS coordinates map digging shovel locations that found objects below ground.
Photographs record exactly how artifacts situated within soil layers. This shows relationships.
Drawings depict artifact shapes' dimensions. Notes describe materials, colors, textures.
Crews carefully remove special finds but also study non-artifacts like stains, pits, and floor remains, which offer clues about past activities at the site.
Defining horizontal boundaries on the surface and depths underground involves additional machine stripping to expose outlines.
All clues allow Cultural Resource Specialists to interpret components and activity areas at sites during evaluations.
Background Research
Specialists dig into documents at state and local archives to understand property history.
Deeds reveal prior owners and land transfers. Historic maps and photos show old structures.
Reports may record archaeological sites from earlier projects. Background data provides context.
Specialists cross-check state site files to see if known cultural resources exist on properties. This guides surveyors.
Understanding past construction, farming, and infrastructure patterns allows better interpretation of artifacts and features discovered.
Evaluations and Recommendations
Analyzing field data and background details allows proper site evaluations, components analysis, integrity assessments, and eligibility determinations for protection under historic preservation laws. Specialists make recommendations for balancing preservation with project needs.
Artifact Analysis
Recovered objects, plant remains, and bones undergo scientific study.
Careful cleaning and mending precedes cataloging, measuring, sketching, and photography to record permanent details about materials.
Background research identifies materials’ age, origins, purposes alongside soil studies showing context and condition.
Analyzing clues hidden within artifacts allows glimpses into the lives of past societies before sites are lost.
Protection Planning
Creating site avoidance buffers, alternate construction routes, or data recovery plans involves integrating research insights with field observations to tailor preservation solutions. Monitoring during ground disturbances ensures continued protection.
Conclusion
At BlueStone Research, our expert Cultural Resource Specialists collaborate with clients, prioritizing preservation, planning, and regulatory needs while keeping projects on track. Contact us today to see how our sensitivity, accountability, and technical expertise can assist your project!
